Poll

Court/Criminal

Billy J. Mitchell, 32, of New Haven, was indicted by a Nelson County grand jury on several counts.

He is charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, first offense, possession of prescription not in proper container, second-degree possession of a controlled substance (hydrocodone), possession of drug paraphernalia, and being a second-degree persistent felony offender.

Louie Frank Corey (1958) pleaded guilty June 2 in LaRue Circuit Court to complicity, manufacturing methamphetamine; complicity, possession of controlled substance; and complicity, possession of controlled substance (meth); and complicity, buy or possession of drug paraphernalia. Recommended sentence is 10 years, three years, three years and 12 months respectively.

Timothy Aaron Ball, 29, of New Haven, was sentenced to eight years in prison for attempt to manufacture methamphetamine and 12 months in jail for possession of drug paraphernalia. Ball was granted probation for a period of five years following set conditions serve 240 days in the Nelson County Jail and pay restitution to the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force. On May 16, Ball attempted to manufacture methamphetamine and possessed drug paraphernalia.

An attempt to permanently seal certain communications between former Hodgenville mayor Terry Cruse and former city clerk/treasurer MaDonna Hornback has failed.

Ron Mather, the attorney representing Cruse and Hornback, submitted a memorandum last month in LaRue Circuit Court claiming messages of a personal nature between his clients were seized during an investigation by Kentucky State Police a year ago. He asked that the material “be returned or permanently sealed.”

The special judge appointed to hear a lawsuit contesting the validity of a race in the May 20 primary election ordered the ballots impounded.

Special David A. Tapp, a 28th Judicial Circuit judge who resides in Somerset, will preside over the case after two other judges were disqualified.

Tapp will hold a preliminary hearing in the case July 8 in his Pulaski Circuit Courtroom. Tapp’s first order, issued June 19, was to impound the ballots in the 24th District House of Representatives race.

A woman who accused her boyfriend of assault and unlawful imprisonment in May, recanted her story Wednesday during a preliminary hearing in LaRue District Court.

James Franklin, 27, was arrested and booked in the LaRue County Detention Center on June 4 on charges of second-degree assault, first-degree unlawful imprisonment and third-degree terroristic threatening, after Janelle Bass reported an attack to Kentucky State Police and the LaRue County Attorney.

Hodgenville Police Chief Steve Johnson was served Saturday evening with a summons to court. He is accused of first-degree criminal misconduct and hindering prosecution, both misdemeanors.
A fellow city officer told prosecutors that Johnson warned then-Mayor Terry Cruse that Kentucky State Police were looking for him and advised him to "lay low."
Cruse was indicted in December on charges of abuse of public trust.
The accusations against Johnson first surfaced immediately after Cruse's indictment, resulting in KSP seizing the Chief's phone.

Joshua Jason Logsdon (1984) pleaded guilty May 19 in LaRue Circuit Court to one count of possession of controlled substance, third or greater offense. Recommended sentence is one year. A count of first-degree persistent felony offender was dismissed. Pre-sentencing investigation was waived by defendant. Probation denied. Final sentencing conducted.